逍遥右脑 2010-05-15 02:06
值得一提是,中国人与西方人看问题方法确在许多方面存在着差异,而且这种差异确确在束缚着中国学生,成为他们英文写作中拦路虎,使他们不能畅所欲言,不能准确而简洁地表达思想。因此,本文就大学英语写作中常见问题谈谈英汉表达几种差异。
一、首先,大学英语写作中常见问题之一英美人与中国人思维方式不同。
英美人思维方式是直线式,他们在遣词造句谋篇上遵循着从一般(general)到具体(specific),从概括(summarize)到举例(exemplify),从整体(whole)到个体(respective)原则。请看短文:
Soccer is a difficult sport.(1)A player must be able to run steadily without rest.(2)Sometimes a player must hit the ball with his or her head.(3)Players must be willing to bang into and be banged into by others.(4)They must put up with aching feet and sore muscles.
上面这则短文中,主题句(main idea sentence)也就是文章中心是第一句,(1)(2)(3)(4)句是用来说明主题句。而在汉语中,我们习惯于先分后总,先说原因后说结果,即所谓“前因后果”,如果要表达相同意思,我们通常这样说:
足球运动员必须能不停地奔跑,有时得用头顶球,撞别人或被别人撞,必须忍受双脚和肌肉疼痛,所以说,足球运动是一项难度大运动。
再比如写下面一则便条,因你母亲突然生病,周末你不能和汤姆去跳舞了,你找了舞跳得很好时黛来代替你,并表示抱歉。
此英语便条为:
July 6,2002
Dear Tom,
I am sorry to inform you that I won't be able to go to dance with you this weekend. My mother is suddenly takenill. In order not to disappoint you, I have asked Shi Dai to take my place. She is a better dancer, I think. My regrets.
Joe
从便条中可以看出,英语表达先“果”—I won't be able to go to dance with you this weekend后“因”—my mother is suddenly
taken ill,即所谓“先果后因”。